Author: William Craven

The 18 Second challenge: Change A Bulb, Change Everything

Written by William Craven on February 26, 2007. Posted in Energy. 2 Comments on The 18 Second challenge: Change A Bulb, Change Everything

Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Good Will Hunting, and An Inconvenient Truth Producer Lawrence Bender stops by to talk about his 21st nomination for an Academy Award, and why his global warming movie was more controversial than the ultra-violent flicks he’s made in the past. Lawrence is also one of the prime movers and shakers behind the 18 Seconds campaign to get people to set aside 18 seconds of their time to screw in a Compact Flourescent Lightbulb, the gateway drug that will get them hooked on energy conservation: "Naturally you’re gonna feel good. So you start to think, ‘What else can I do?’" PART ONE (11 min) PART TWO (7 min)

Dr. Dickson Despommier: Vertical Farms

Written by William Craven on February 26, 2007. Posted in green building.

Columbia Department of Environmental Health Science Microbiologist Dr. Dickson Despommier breaks down the science nonfiction idea that he says is a key component to any serious solution to the Earth’s growing population pressures: Vertical Farms, urban skyscrapers housing productive, efficient, sustainable, and extremely local agriculture for an increasingly urbanized world: "Over the next 50 years there’ll be 3 billion more people on this planet." Are Vertical Farms part of the answer? Dr. Despommier gives his take (yes), and points out that these structures can also serve as water treatment plants and other valuable public infrastructure. LISTEN (8 min)

Lead In Our Children’s Vinyl Lunch Boxes

Written by William Craven on February 22, 2007. Posted in Health.

The Center for Environmental Health has discovered dangerous levels of lead in our children’s vinyl lunch boxes. And guess who’s covering up their own research on lead and vinyl products? If you guessed the Federal government, then you’ve probably been listening to EcoTalk’s ongoing coverage of how our government has continually sold off public health to the highest bidder. Alexa Engelman, Public Interest Litigation Coordinator for the CEH, tells Betsy about the latest suppression of science, and what you need to know about lead and vinyl. LISTEN (11 min)

Charting Wal-Mart’s Progress

Written by William Craven on February 22, 2007. Posted in Green Biz.

Do you go green with the company you’d like to have, or the company you’ve got? Wal-Mart Vice President of Sustainability Andy Ruben tells Betsy how Wal-Mart is attempting to accomplish its three ambitious and open-ended goals:
1. Be supplied by 100% renewable energy.
2. Create zero waste.
3. Sell products that sustain our resources and environment.
He explains how the Green Xanadu of Wal-Marts in Kansas City uses 20% less electricity to operate and how their customers’ green living can begin with a lightbulb.
PART ONE (7 min) PART TWO (12 min)

MIT’s Sustainable Business Lab

Written by William Craven on February 22, 2007. Posted in Green Biz, Green Careers, sustainability.

Professor of Management and Engineering Systems John Sterman of MIT’s Sloan School of Management tells Betsy why being a green MBA is less of a lonely pursuit than when he was at Sloan, and of the launch of their S-Lab, a way of harnessing students’ demand to include sustainability in their bottom lines, and to begin working in the big leagues right away. LISTEN (8 min)

The Car 2.0

Written by William Craven on February 21, 2007. Posted in NRDC segment.

NRDC Vehicles Policy Director Roland Hwang tells Betsy how when other countries come to the US to talk proactive environmental strategy, they are increasingly bypassing Washington for California: "California and Europe are moving forward together into the future, while Washington seems stuck in the past." Unlike the Bush Administration, which has long used China and India’s inaction as an excuse for their own, California and Europe remained undeterred by cynicism or nearsightedness: Mandatory carbon and tailpipe standards in California and Europe promise to transform the automotive industry, and the influential precedents that the world needs will be in place and ready for copy. PART ONE (11 min)
Picture Treehugger Title from Boston Globe

Roland also shared with us one of the more succinct and cogent analyses of Ethanol that we have heard: "Not all ethanol is created equal, and if you want to help the environment, you have to use the ethanol in the right way. Here’s what I mean…." PART TWO (7 min)

Advancing Science, Serving Society

Written by William Craven on February 20, 2007. Posted in climate change.

Vaughan Turekian, Chief International Officer for the American Association for the Advancement of Science talks about the noble skepticism that underscores all legitimate scientific inquiry, and how that differs from the straw men scientists being propped up by of the climate change deniers: "When 2500 scientists– and I there are actually more than that– that say that humans are impacting the climate, then humans are impacting the climate." LISTEN (8 min)

Live Earth: Concerts For A Climate In Crisis

Written by William Craven on February 19, 2007. Posted in climate change, Music. 2 Comments on Live Earth: Concerts For A Climate In Crisis

Cathy Zoi of the Alliance for Climate Protection tells Betsy about the launch of the SaveOurSelves campaign and the star-studded (Pharrel! Chili Peppers! Snoop Dog! Bloc Party! Bon freakin’ Jovi!) LiveEarth Concert Festivals slated for July 7th. She also speaks to the droughts in her sometime home Australia that are pushing public opinion towards greater conservation, and a more considered look at our relationship to the Earth’s resources. LISTEN (11 min)

Treehugger: Step by Step

Written by William Craven on February 19, 2007. Posted in TreeHugger Radio.

Step by Step? Are New Kids on the Block reuniting? No, unfortunately you’ll just have to settle for an incredibly cool energy harvesting staircase. Say what? Treehugger Correspondent Simran Sethi explains. LISTEN (7 min)

Adrienne Young & FoodRoutes

Written by William Craven on February 19, 2007. Posted in Music, Organics.

Country Bluegrass Singer Adrienne Young has used her stirring voice and songwriting gifts to sing the praises of living food, local agriculture, and an intimate connection to nature and the life lessons it offers. Adrienne is a spokesperson for FoodRoutes, a national organization that aims to help put local food on your table. Find out how to get involved with FoodRoutes in your area, and buy Adrienne’s new album May 22nd! LISTEN (12 min)